The real stories from inside the F1 paddock

Three hours and 20 minutes after the flag

The Great Firewall of China is not going to stop GP+ publishing – although the Chinese are none too keen on allowing us to tell the world about their Grand Prix. There was a huge crowd in Shanghai to watch an absolutely exemplary display of driving from Lewis Hamilton, who led from lights to flag to score his 25th Grand Prix victory – and equal Jim Clark’s total of Grand Prix victories. Two more wins and he will be up with Sir Jackie Stewart. The race was a bit of a runaway victory for the Mercedes driver but there was action behind as Nico Rosberg battled his way through to take second to give Mercedes another 1-2.

This week’s GrandPrix+ features

– A chat with the new Ferrari team principal – Marco Mattiacci
– Lewis v Nico – the whole story
– Gene Haas has some odd ideas
– Ron Dennis remembers Ayrton Senna, as does Joe Saward
– And a look at a man called Boillot, who took on the mighty Mercedes team
– We look at the opening round of the Renault World Series
– DT expresses some opinions about Pastor Maldonado
– Mike Doodson looks at FIA Courts of Appeal
– JS looks for new adventures in Shanghai
– While Peter Nygaard adds some colour to the Shanghai fog

GP+ is a racing magazine like racing magazines used to be, but is published in electronic form in PDF format, so you can read it on a laptop or a tablet. We take you behind the scenes in the F1 paddock and explain what is really going on. We have forthright opinions and we don’t care if we knock noses out of joint. There are plenty of fascinating stories from Grand Prix history as well, plus great photography and old style reporting, giving you a blow-by-blow account of what happened, both in qualifying and in the race, so you have a proper record which can stay in your computer for years to come.

It’s a real bargain. You get 22 issues for £29.99, covering the entire 2014 Formula 1 season. And all for the price of a pizza and a couple of drinks. And if that is not value for money, we don’t know what is.

Many years ago I was asked by Eddie Jordan to stand by as Doctor whilst his team enjoyed a special day on the South Circuit at Silverstone . A private occasion , I think a celebration of a good season of results . At the time , as the local doctor , I regularly attended testing sessions at the circuit , and did so from 1965 until I decided that at aged 75 I should stop . There were three guests who were to enjoy a drive in EJ’s F1 car . The prospects were for a quiet relaxing duty until the three turned up . One was Nick Faldo , not a small man . One was to be Gary Anderson , decidedly large . The third , if I remember his name correctly , was a celebrated rock star named Chris Rea .

There were no disasters but I remember that getting Gary into the car was a problem owing to his size . Some time earlier in conversation with Gary I had asked him what height of driver his cars were designed for ? Reply : 5 ft 7 inches Or at the most. 5ft. 8 inches . To get Gary into the car various fixtures had to be removed ! I think he navigated with his arms somewhat compromised !

We all enjoyed the day . But I was relieved to get home without the fear of dramatic headlines in the next days papers . I expect this day out is sort of confidential , but if you see Gary you may think to remind him of the episode and ask his opinion on the present debate on driver size and weight

@ Dr. Newton. As you know, in the US and Canada it’s considered an insult to use the “f” word to describe portly or sturdily built individuals, so maybe we should send our underworked Language Sûreté from Quebec (de la langue francaise) to pay you guys a visit. Anyway, I thought guests are only allowed to drive F1 cars at 50km per… So why would EJ need a standby physician at that special event?

I imagine insurance requirements would demand that a doctor be present whenever an F1 car is driven, especially by a non racing driver. The fact that they weren’t racing doesn’t make it completely safe. After all the awful accident that so tragically ended the career (and ultimately the life) of Maria de Villota was at low speed and in the pit/paddock area. So if that can happen to a skilled and experienced driver like her then what chance for a musician or designer…

Thanks for the expansive data on Mr. Hass. So far aspects of his performance at the initial press conference/interview appear incoherent, confused and betrays incredible naïveté about the daunting task ahead of him.

In doing so, he projected the image of someone who seems to be unfamiliar with the modalities of F1; has not carefully thought through the complexities of operating a team in F1; has not assessed the options available to him i.e., buying an existing team v. the massive cost required for building one from the ground up.

The impression is conveyed of him trying to operate a team playing small balls or operating on the cheap. Maybe he should have a chat with those blokes over at BMW, Toyota and Honda; all of whom will surely tell him how easy and inexpensively it was for them to achieve massive levels of successes in F1 while not spending much – Oh, only a few small billions upon billions in the process.

Since, according to him, he is not yet required to commit to a start-up date; then he should chose 2016 and take the time to educate himself on the rudiments of the sport; develop a well-thought-out business plan; evaluate the most cost effective approach – buy or build; etc., etc. Only then should he go racing in the big league.

When one considers that a well oiled machine like McLaren is currently underachieving, one wonders what level of success Haas would deem acceptable. Maybe he should approach Lopez and make an offer for Lotus, at least he wouldn’t have to start from scratch if he succeeds.
But unless he has resources and a plan like Dieter M from Red Bull, I suspect he is in for a rude awakening.

@ AMC. You certainly nailed it, “he is in for a rude awakening” unless he has some master plan to lure Newey away from RB. Mr. Newey previously worked in the US, but it is doubtful that he would make such a move again unless Mr. Hass were prepared to probably offer him, say, at least 30% equity in all of his holdings. (That bloke is worth it, look at what he has done for Williams; McLaren and now RB).

Regardless of the height of his billions, unless Mr. Hass awakes very soon and try to buy either Lotus or Force India then he’ll be battling Caterham for supremacy at the rear at least the next five years. Someone should tell him that guys toiling at the rear do not garner much publicity unless he plans to hire the talented Mr. Maldanado

I thought your interview with Senna was exceptional. I think one of the reasons why he agreed to do it in Budapest -he was in love. I was very fortunate to do the official Hungarian TV interview at the Gundel Restaurant -brilliantly organized by Agnes Carlier of Philip Morris . What I didn’t know at the time was that one of the waiters secretly recorded it all . It is now on Youtube. Just tap in “Senna in Budapest 1993.” His body language says it all and shows Adriane as well. I have never seen him this happy, a great memory to cherish.